School threw her son's lunch into garbage over $5 — then her perfect response stunned the staff and other students
Many people find themselves in embarrassing situations without making any actual mistake, at least once in their lives. Some people might choose to forget about it, others might complain, while a few others might do something to change the situation and ensure that the same thing doesn't happen to someone else. When a student was embarrassed during lunch at school because he had a payment due of 5 dollars, his mom did something similar to solve that problem for once and for all, as per NPR.
A 16-year-old boy, Dominic Gant, couldn't eat lunch at school because the people in his school's cafeteria refused to let him have it until he cleared his dues worth $5. The food service at Dowagiac Union High School told Gant that he couldn't have his lunch and even went as far as throwing his pizza lunch tray in the trash can. He had $2 in his pocket and offered them that amount and promised to bring the remaining amount the next day, but the worker refused to budge. "It was really embarrassing. Especially because it happened in front of the entire lunch room, the whole classroom," Gant told CNN. "(They) took my plate away, saying I had enough to eat today."
When Gant's mother, Amanda Keown, found out about the incident as she picked her son up from school, she was upset. She went to the school and paid off the whole school's past balances, along with her son's, to ensure that no kid would have to go through what her son had to experience. "I was so appalled that he was denied lunch and had his lunch taken out of his hands over five bucks," the mom expressed. "I realize that I don't have to do it, but I don't want another kid to go through what my son went through." The mom told NPR, "He was embarrassed. He was also hungry! And I was very, very mad."
Keown paid the food service $60 that cleared up her son's account, as well as those of 18 other students who had some amount due in their balance sheet. "I hope they can enjoy the rest of the year without fear," the mom went on. She decided that she had to step in at that moment and change the situation. The school's superintendent, Mark Daniel, explained that the worker who threw Gant's lunch in the trash can worked for the food service and not for the school district. Daniel expressed that they regretted the incident and said that they were a "compassionate and caring school district that truly believed every student matters."When the incident was covered by CNN and shared on YouTube, it sparked a discussion about the treatment the students receive in schools.
@CommunityUUG wrote, "That's just so wrong...that should never happen. Making an example of someone like that over $5. Even if it's more, at least let him finish his meal. Don't give it to him and then take it away to put it in the trash." @HuimisKiss commented, "Are you seriously trying to say that in the U.S., pupils must PAY for their school lunches? I have NEVER paid anything for going to school/university... Everything is paid with taxes. Actually, I got PAID to go to college. The student allowances. That's one of the biggest reasons people pay taxes! To get free education for everyone!"